Impact of the Kangaroo mother care method on weight gain in premature newborns: systematic review

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate the impact of the Kangaroo Mother Care method on weight gain in premature newborns. Methods A systematic review was conducted in scientific databases, including Pubmed, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Scopus, as well as clinically relevant articles from Dialnet and Cuiden. The search covered the period from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2023, using keywords and boolean operators “AND” and “OR.” Results Nine studies meeting the inclusion criteria and undergoing critical reading were included. Despite the high heterogeneity, the results underscore the global relevance of the Kangaroo Mother Care Method, demonstrating that this method positively impacts weight gain in newborns. Additionally, the positive influence of breastfeeding and kinesthetic stimulation on the weight of these preterm infants was observed. Conclusions The Kangaroo Mother Care method significantly benefits preterm newborns, improving weight gain. Breastfeeding and kinesthetic stimulation combined with KMC further enhance the benefits regarding the weight of preterm infants. These findings highlight the need for broader adoption of Kangaroo Mother Care with standardized protocols. Keywords Kangaroo mother care, Weight gain, Premature birth, Incubators, Breastfeeding